Roanoke Rapids midgets prove victorious

ROANOKE RAPIDS — The Roanoke Rapids Midget Yellow Jackets came to Hoyle Field still envisioning a rematch against Weldon. The only thing in there way was Gaston College Prepatory. The football faithfuls showed up to support the Midget Yellow Jackets and to cheer them on to a, 26-8, victory and a trip to the championship game on Saturday versus Weldon. The Jackets kicked off to GCP and Jordan Sheppard fell on the ball for Roanoke Rapids. The Yellow Jackets did what they do best and moved the ball down the field with D.J. Jones and Mel’Quan Ames carrying the ball. On the third play of the first drive, Ames finds the awe such familiar territory… the endzone for the Jackets. Jones gets the call for the conversion and the Yellow Jackets strike first to go ahead 8-0. 

GCP went three and out on their first possession and the Yellow Jackets took over the ball on downs. 

Roanoke Rapids quarterback Jordan Sheppard helped lead the Jackets down the field with handoffs to Ames, Bracey Irby and Jones, with Jones finding the end zone for the Jackets. Jones again attempted the extra point but the Pride stood their ground, yet the Jackets remained in the lead,14 -0. With only seconds left in the first half the Yellow Jackets kick off to the Pride and GCP’s J. Buffaloe gets the ball and returns it for a touchdown and Cole was successful with the extra point, bringing the game to 14-8  at halftime. 

The third quarter started off with the Pride kicking off to the Yellow Jackets, with Ames on the return. Three plays later an awesome block by Irby opened the way for Sheppard to keep the ball and score for Roanoke Rapids. The conversion attempt failed. Tyler Shearin recovered an onside kick for the Jackets and Roanoke Rapids scored three plays later when Jones found the endzone. The Pride again held their ground and denied the Jackets the extra point conversion, but the Jackets still lead, 26-8. Jacob Walker recovered another onside kick for the home team, but GCP was able to keep them out of the endzone. 

Still, the Yellow Jackets were victorious and advanced to the championship game against Weldon on Saturday.